RYAN DAY SAYS SPECIAL TEAMS MISTAKES ARE “UNACCEPTABLE,” BUT HOLDS PARKER FLEMING IN HIGH RESPECT AS “A GREAT TEACHER AND A GREAT COACH.”

Sources: NCAA says Ohio State's Ryan Day has no known ties to Michigan sign-stealing probe

Jesse Mirco’s unsuccessful fake punt run against Rutgers last weekend, which occurred despite Ryan Day’s failure to call for a fake on the play, was the Buckeyes’ latest gaffe in the third phase of the game. Ohio State ran an unintentional fake punt for the second time this season, having also turned the ball over on downs inside their own territory when John Ferlmann erroneously snapped the ball to Cody Simon against Maryland.

In last year’s loss to Michigan, Mason Arnold was supposed to snap the ball to Mitch Rossi on what would have been a successful fake punt, but instead snapped the ball back to Mirco. Another fake punt in the following game against Georgia was nullified by a timeout but would not have counted anyway because the Buckeyes had 12 players on the field. There have been numerous instances in recent years of Ohio State making unforced errors on special teams.

Because Ohio State has a full-time special teams coordinator, Parker Fleming, which many other college football teams do not, those errors have gotten more attention. Despite allocating more resources to special teams, Ohio State appears to have made more game-changing mistakes than game-changing plays in its favor.

Ryan Day stated on Tuesday that mistakes like the non-punt against Rutgers on Saturday – a mistake that contributed significantly to Rutgers taking a lead into halftime – are unacceptable.

The ball should’ve been punted. “That should never have been a run in that situation,” Day said. “Ultimately, I’m the head coach, so it’s my fault, but it needs to be communicated better, and it’s unacceptable.”

“I just think the communication needs to be more clear.” When you make it too gray, it becomes difficult for the player. And there’s no excuse for Jesse not to punt the ball. But I believe that as coaches, we can be more specific about what we want on a play.”

While Mirco is permitted to run the ball rather than punt the ball if he has an open lane to run for a first down, Day stated that this was not the case when he did so against Rutgers.

“The decision was made too quickly, and they rallied around it.” “And so, once you get the ball in that spot, we want it punted,” Day explained.

When asked specifically about Fleming and why he chose to give Fleming a raise and contract extension this year, Day defended his special teams coordinator, saying Fleming is “a great teacher and a great coach.”

“And I can just tell you that he works as hard as anybody in the building,” Day said at the time. “But we’re all being judged every time we go out there.” And it includes everyone on special teams. It’s not just the coordinator, though he and I are both ultimately in charge. So you can blame it on me. But, clearly, everyone in charge of special teams, because there are so many coaches involved in the meetings, can do a better job. So we’ll just keep working to improve it. But we know what is expected.”